Machine for mining coal



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

-(No Model.)

P. A. POGOGK. MACHINE FOR-MINING GOAL.

No. 444,116. Patented Jam. 6, 1891.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

(No Model.)

T A 0 .0 m 0 m I CM PR m WE 0 A M Patented Ja11. 6, 1891.

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(No Model.) I

. I. A. POGO CK.

MACHINE FOR MINING GOAL. No. 444,116. Patented Jan. 6,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS A. POOOCK, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MlNlNG COAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,116, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed April 15, 1890.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. PooooK, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Mining Goal, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to that type of coalmining apparatus which produces an undercut; and the objects of the invention are to provide novel cutting mechanism, to provide novel means for actuating the reciprocating cutting-tools on a continuously-rotating support, to provide novel contrivances for adjusting the angles of the cutting-tool relatively to the periphery of the rotating support, to provide novel devices for :receiving and carrying the dust and chips out of the under-cut, to provide novel means for successively clearing the dust and chip carriers, to provide novel mechanism for avoiding choking of the cutters by overfeedin g, and to otherwise improve and simplify coal mining or excavating machines to render them practicable, efficient, and satisfactory in operation. To accomplish all these objects my invention involves the features of construction, the combination or arrangement of devices, and the principles of operation hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of an undercuttin-g mining apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view'of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the cone-pulleys and their driving-gear. Fig. i is a detail sectional View of one of the cutting-tools. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an arrangement of cables for feeding the machine forward into the under-cut, and Fig. 6 is a similar View showing an arrangement of cables for feeding the machine laterally along the undercut.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention,l will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, where- The numeral 1 indicates a metallic or other supporting-frame of any preferred form, that shown in plan view in the drawings being a simple and practical one. This frame con- Serial No. 348,041- (No model.)

sists, essentially, of a triangular structure composed of two eoual divergent bars 2, which unite with a cross-beam 3, upon the opposite side of which is an extension formed of two similar and equal but shorter arms 4, which, like the bars 2 of the main frame, meet at an apex in the central transverse line of the beam 3. The frame is supported by wheels 4, having journals upon which rest the ends of yokes 5, which form a connection between the wheels and the frame. These yokes are pivotally connected to the frame at the points where the beam 3 unites with the main frame in order that they may be set at any required angle with the frame. Upon the extension of the frame is mounted an axle 6, which carries wheels 7, by which the machine may be transported from one place to another; but these wheels are always removed when the machine is operating to cut or excavate.

by the two bars 2 is formed a head 7, having a bearing upon which is mounted a rotating support composed of a wheel or circular frame of suitable diameter. This support or wheel is provided with a central hub 7 which is connected with the rim or periphery by means of spokes or radial arms 8, which may be either cast solid with the wheel or be formed of tubes which are screwed into the hub and circumference, and which are utilized, as hereinafter explained, for conveying air, steam, or other medium of power to the cutting-tools carried by the Wheel. A gear-wheel 9 is formed or mounted upon the upper face of the rotating support for rotating the latter, as hereinafter explained.

Upon the outer periphery of the rotating support or wheel, at points corresponding with the arrangement of the radial arms or supports 8, I mount heads 10, consisting each of a casting of suitable shape firmly bolted to theunder side of the wheel, and into which the ends of thehollow spokes 8 maybe screwed. The heads 10 extend somewhat beyond the periphery of the wheel, and they are each provided with a stud or other pivotal bearing rising from the upper surface of thehead.

ranged a cuttingtool of suitable form, consisting, preferably, of the pneumatic recipro- Upon this stud is pivotally mounted or ar Upon the extreme end of the frame formed eating tool hereinafter more particularly described. The pivotal support with which the tool is provided enables it. to be set so that its line of reciprocation maybe parallel toa line drawn tangent to the periphery of the wheel at the pivotal point or at any desired angle with such a line.

Upon each head 10 is formed an ear, lug, or extension 13, which is provided with a slot 14-, receiving the axis or prolonged journal of a guide-roller 15, which rides upon the face of the cutting 12, immediately in rear of the tool itself. The spindles or axes of the rollers are adjustable in the slots 11, cut in the radialline of adj ustment of the circular frame or wheel to provide means whereby the bite or cut of the several tools carried by said wheel may be adjusted both to the speed of the wheel and the nature of the material upon which said tools operate. As the wheel rovolves and the tools thereon a-re reciprocated there will be a certain accumulation of cut tings or clippings, as well as the dust and debris, in the undercut channel, and unless these are removed from time to time or prevented from choking the cut the action of the tools will be most seriously affected. In or der, therefore, to keep the under-cut clear, I mount upon the wheel or circular frame in front of each cutting-tool a pan or tray 16, so formed and arranged that it shall receive the dust and cuttings produced by said tool. This tray, which is formed of sheet metal, is bolted upon the wheel or frame in such manner that it is adjustable thereon, whereby it may be placed in such position that the clippings from the tool shallfall into the pan beneath. The outer edge of the tray will run close to the vertical face of the under-cut, as shown in the plan view in Fig. 1.

In suitable bearings upon the central head which carries the hub of the wheel are journaled radial shafts 17, which also receive support in sleeve-bearings upon the periphery of the said wheel or circular frame, and on the ends of these shafts or spindles, which project outward beyond the wheel, I mount brushes 18, of substantially cylindrical form, which rotate immediately behind each tray and sweep the dust and clippings forward into the trays. The brushes are made to revolve by means of a fixed rack 1.), rigidly mounted upon the main frame and meshing into bevel-gears 20, mounted on the spindles or shafts 17, whereby a rapid rotation is imparted to the brushes. This movement continues during the time the tools are operating within the under-cut, but ceases after the brushes emerge therefrom, owing to the discontinuance of the fixed rack 19. These brushes sweep the dust and dirt upon the trays, and also serve to keep the under'cut clean and free from any accumulation of fine dust or chippings which may escape from or fail to reach the trays by sweeping such finely-divided matter out of the out before the brushes. These brushes maybe made of wire, bristles, or other suitable material, ac-

cording to the nature of the work and the character of the material upon which they operate.

As the trays pass beneath the main frame of the machine they are cleansed and discharged of their contents by brushes 21, mounted upon a horizontal transverse shaft 22, journaled at its ends in drop-bearings or hangers upon the bars 2 and arranged in substantial parallelism with the beam 3. The brush-shaft 22 is provided with a worm-thread 23, with which meshes a worm-wheel 21, carried by a shaft 25, having support in a boss 26 on the beam and in a bearing 27, arranged at the apex of the arms 4:. The shaft also carries a gear 28, meshing with the gear-wheel 9, to impart revolution to the to tating support or wheel and through the worm-wheel to the brushes 21. The latter are preferably formed of wires or bristles mounted and arranged spirally upon cylindrical supports 29 and driven at a suitable speed to clear the trays as each one passes beneath one or the other of said brushes.

At the apex or outer end of the extensionframe formed by the arms 4 is a bearing 30 for a shaft 31, giving support to a bevel-gear 32, which meshes with bevel-gear 33 on the shaft 25, which is driven through the agency of a spnr-gear 31, mounted on the shaft 25 and receiving movement from a pinion on a power-shaft actuated by an engine or motor of any preferred type, such as acompressedair motor, an electric motor, or other medium of power. In view of the fact thatI mayemploy any one of a number of different powers without regard to specific construction, and in view of the wide range of choice of which the invention is capable in this respect, I have merely indicated in the drawings a typical represen tation of a motor,which may be arranged at the point If the engine is rotary, the power-shaft will carry a gear meshing with the spur-gear 34, and in like manner, if the movement is reciprocatory, it will be communicated through a suitable shaft and gear to the same point.

I regard the reciprocating tool, which delivers a blow in a line parallel or forming a small angle with the tangential line of the rotating support or wheel, as being preferable; bnt I do not confine myself to any specific construction of entting-tool.

The central head of the circular frame is supported by means of a ball 36, seated in a suitable hearing or socket 37 in the head 7 of a circular frame, said ball resting upon the floor of the cutting, as shown in Fig. 2. As the rotating circular frame or wheel advances this ball rolls upon the floor of the cutting and sustains the weight of the circular frame and of the reciprocating tools carried thereby. In like manner this ballbearing forms a support for the circular frame as it is moved in any direction. The ball 36 is held in its hearing or socket by means of a wear-plate 37, having a threaded nipple or upon the shaft 43.

ring which screws into an annular socket around the socket-bearing 37.

As already described, the tools 12 of whatever construction are pivotally mounted upon the heads or tool-carriers 10, andin order to give the necessary adjustment to each a screwrod 38 is attached to each tool-stock and carried through a socket or hearing on or in the circular frame, in which it is locked at any desired point by means of set-nuts 39, which are preferably turned upon the rod on opposite sides of the wheel or other bearing for the rod 38, whereby a longitudinal adjustment of said rod may be effected to vary the angle of operation of the cutting-tool.

Upon the vertical shaft 31,which is rigidly mounted in or upon the boss 30, is a sleeve 31, which carries a pinion 41, and upon the said sleeve is mounted a cone-pulley 40, rigid with which is a spurgear 45. The gear 45 meshes with a pinion 42,.which is rigid with a second cone-pulley 40, both the cone-pulley and the pinion .42 being mounted upon the shaft 43, having bearing in one of the arms 4 of the extension of the frame. Acut gear 44, rigid with the pinion 42, meshes with the pinion 41, carried by the sleeve 31, and hence motion communicated from the bevelgear to the gear-wheel 32 is transmitted through pinion 41 to spur-gear 44, and a differential revolution will be given from the pinion 42 through the spur-gear 45 to the cone-pulley 40 as compared with the conepulley 40, the latter being approximately of the same dimensions as the cone-pulley 4O As the gear-wheel 32 receives motion from the bevel-gear 33 on the shaft 25, and as this motion is communicated from the gear 32 to the pinion 41, and thence through the gear 44 to the spur-gear 45, it will be seen that the two cone-pulleys will travel inopposite directions, but at a differ-1 cnt speed.

In the practical use of the machine one of the cone-pulleys is used in connection with cables for feeding the machine forward and also laterally. In Fig. 5 I indicate a suitable arrangement of cables to feed the machine forward into the undercut. The two cables 48 and 49 are secured to the main supporting-frame 1 and pass around pulleys 50 on stanchions or supports 51, and both cables are then carried in the same direction around one of the cone-pulleysfor instance, the one indicated by the numeral 40. The free ends of these cables may be held by theattendant. Forthelateralfeed thecables48maybesecured at one end to the shaft of one of the conepul]eys-for instance, the shaft 31-and such cables then pass around a pulley 52 on a stanchion or support 53. The cable 49 is secured to the main supporting-frame 1 and passes around a pulley 54 on a stanchion or support 55. The cables are passed around the conepulley 40 in opposite directions, and thefrce ends may be held by the attendant, one being taken up and the other payed out.

I do not specifically claim the special arrangement of cables shown,an.d merely exhibit the same as one manner of utilizing a cone-pulley for feeding the machine. The cables may be applied to either cone-pulley, according to the speed of feed desired.

\Vithin the hub 7 of the rotating circular frame by which the reciprocating tools 12 are carried is formed an air, steam, or other channel46, concentric with the axis of said circular frame. \Vith the ends of this channel I connect pipes, tubes, or other conveyers of power 47. (Partly shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.)

In those constructions where I employ steam as the motive power the live steam will pass from the boiler directly through. these conveyers and into the supply-channel 46, whence 'it will be delivered by wayof the radial channels or hollow spokes 8 to the bolts 12. The mode of operation involved is so obvious, in view of the well-known character of the reciprocating tools, that no further description of the same is required. It should be noted, however, that in place of steam or air compressed under high tension I may ein'ployany other working-fluid to effect the operation of the gang of cutting-tools.

"What I claim is 1. In an undercutting coal-mining machine, the combination of a main supporting-frame, a horizontally-arranged revolving frame or wheel having a circularly-channeled hub j on rnaled in the main frame and rigid tubular spokes firmly connecting the channeled hub to the periphery of the frame or wheel, and a gang of cutting-tools secured at points around the periphery of the frame or wheel, Working in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of movementof the frame or wheel, and actuated by a fluid conducted through the tubular spokes and channeled hub, with power-driven gear to continuously revolve the frame or wheel and cause the cutting-tools to effect their cutting action on the coal as they travel in acircular path with the continuously-revolving frame or wheel, substantially as described.

2. In an undercutting coal-mining machine, the combination of a main supporting-frame, a horiZontally-arranged revolving frame or wheel having rigid tubular spokes and a circularly-channeled hub journaled in the main frame and carrying below the latter a central rolling bearing to rest on the floor of the cut ting, and a gang of swinging cutting-tools secured at points around the periphery of the frame or wheel, working in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of movement of the frame or wheel, and actuated by a fluid conducted through the tubular spokes and channeled hub, with power-driven gear to continuously revolve the frame or Wheel and cause the cutting-tools to effect their cutting action on the coal as they travel in a circular path with the continuously-revolving frame or wheel, substantially as described.

IIO

3. In a coal-miniug machine, the combination. with a. supporting-frame capable of direct and lateral adjustment, of a circular frame or wheel journaled thereon and having a gear on one side thereof, a shaft jonrnaled in said frame and carrying a gear meshing with the gear on the frame or wheel, a motor revolving said shaft, a series of pivotallymounted reciprocating tools carried by said wheel, a correspont'ling series of radial pipes giving communication between a chamber in the hub and the several motors operating the reciprocating tools, and rods orbars connected with the stocks of said tools and adjustable in sockets in or upon the circular frame or wheel, wherein they are locked by set-nuts, substantially as described.

4. In a coal-mining machine, the combination, with a snpporting-frame capable of direct and lateral adjustment, of a circular frame or wheel journaled or having central bearing thereon, means for rotating said wheel, a series of reciprocating tools pivotally mounted upon supports carried by said wheel, means for operating said tools by powercommunicated through the radial bars or spokes of said wheel, and guide-rollers having their journals adjustable in slotted bearings on said wheel, the peripheries of said guiderollers running upon the face 01' vertical wall of the cutting, substantially as described.

5. In a coal-mining machine, the combination, with a circular frame or wheel having continuous rotation upon asupporting-frame, of a series of reciprocating tools mounted pivotally upon said wheel, one or more trays or pans carried by said wheel and adapted to receive the dust and cuttings produced by the tools, and one or more brushes carried by radial shafts mounted in bearings upon the wheel and having actuating-gears which mesh with a mutilated rack on the frame supporting the wheel, whereby the floor of the under-cut is swept clean, substantially as described.

6. In an undercutting coal-mining machine, the combination, with a continuously-rev0lw ing support carrying a series of reciprocating tools and journaled upon a movable frame, of a pan or tray mounted upon said wheel in advanceof eachcutting-tool to receive the dust and cuttings produced by the action of such reciprocating tool, and a transverse brushshaft mounted on said movable frame and carrying brushes by which all of said pans or trays are discharged after they emerge from the under-cut, substantially as described.

7. An tuidercuttin coal-mining machine consisting of a continuonsly-revolving sup port having achanneled hub and radialchanneled bars or spokes communicating with the channeled hub, a gang of reciprocz'tting cutting-tools mounted at the periphery of the support and actuated bya working-thud conveyed through the hub and the bars or spokes, means for adjusting the acting ends of the cutting-tools and to form the peripheryof the revolving support, a chip-pan secured to the support in advance of each cutting-tool and underlying the acting end thereof, and a transverse brush-shaft having brushes for clearing the pans as they successively emerge from the under cut, substantially as described.

8. Ina coal-mining machine, the combination, with an angular frame consisting of two arms meeting at an apex and supporting a head or hub, of a circular frame supported by said hub and having a gear-wheel, a shaft journaled in said frame and in an extension thei eof and carrying a gear meshing with the said gear-wh eel, a m otor carried by said frameextension and operating said shaft, a series of reciprocating tools carried by said circular frame and operated by a medium of power carried to said tools by radial passages on said circular frame, a series of trays receiving the cuttings from said tools, and a shaft driven by a worm on the shaft driving the circular frame and carrying brushes which discharge and clean the trays as they pass out of the under-cut, substantially as described.

9. The con'ibination, in an undercutting minirig-machine, of a continuously-revolving circular support, a gang of swinging cuttingtools pivoted atthe'periphery of the support, devices for independently adjusting the acting end of each cutting-tool to and from the periphery of the support, a chip-pail secured to the support in advance of each cuttingtool, a brush for successively clearing the pans as they emerge from the undercut and a brush traveling with the revolving support for sweeping the under-cut, substantially as described.

10. The combination, in an undercutting mining-machinc, of a main frame, a support continuously revolving in a horizontal plane and carrying at its periphery a gang of cutting-tools, a chip-pan secured to the support in advance of each cutting-tool, and a transverse brush-shaft journaled 011 the main frame and having brushes which successively clear the pans, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have allixed mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS A. IOCOCK.

Witnesses:

II. M. STREETER, W. G. PAR'IRIDGE. 

